FMI Highlights Industry Efforts on Added Sugar Reduction during FDA Public Meeting

Arlington, VA – Today, FMI – The Food Industry Association Senior Director, Health & Well-being, Krystal Register participated in a panel discussion to highlight the food industry’s consumer education and community outreach efforts during the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) public meeting on added sugar reduction. In her remarks, Register emphasized the critical role of registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) in empowering consumers to make healthy choices, ways the food industry is innovating to provide shoppers with a greater array of healthy options in grocery aisles and strategies the industry is employing to support consumers in their health and well-being journeys. 

Regarding the role of RDNs in supporting consumers, Register stated, “Registered dietitian nutritionists work across the food industry, sharing evidence-based messaging to empower consumers to include nutritious food and beverage options as they build meals and snacks, in alignment with the Dietary Guidelines, to ultimately enjoy family meals and an overall healthy pattern of eating.” 

Register also remarked on the options the food industry provides to consumers to support their individual health needs, saying, “FMI members are committed to providing variety and choice for consumers across diverse portfolios of products that offer a wide range of sugar content to meet consumer preferences, from containing no added sugars, small amounts of added sugar, addition of non-nutritive sweeteners and packaging in smaller portions.” 

Register concluded by noting the strategies the food industry has implemented to help educate consumers on healthy patterns of eating. She explained, “In addition to providing label reading tips, recipe ideas and lifestyle guidance, RDNs in the food industry are also providing one-on-one nutrition counseling, including medical nutrition therapy (MNT), directly to consumers both in-person and virtually. Across the entire food industry, both grocers and product suppliers are helping consumers eat healthier and learn more about how to reduce added sugar consumption.”